Economy Furniture strikers marching on Congress Ave, 1969
Economy Furniture Strike Urban Hike - SOLD OUT
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15 | 10 AM - 1 PM
TOUR STARTS AT GREEN & WHITE GROCERY (1201 E 7th St)
Join us on Saturday, February 15 for a walking tour of the sites and places of the Economy Furniture Strike, one of the most significant labor actions by Mexican Americans in Austin’s history. This 2-mile urban hike will be hosted by labor historian, Matthew Medina.
East Austin is the setting of a two-and-a-half-year-long labor strike by the majority Mexican American workforce of the Economy Furniture Industries plant at 9315 Old McNeil Road in North Austin. The striking workers, who called themselves, “huelgalistas” predominately lived in East Austin. Join Preservation Austin for an urban hike to walk and learn on a guided tour about the history of the Mexican populations in East Austin from the beginning all the way to the end of the strike in 1972! We will walk through the neighborhood and see important organizing spaces, businesses, homes, and learn about their deep connections to the history of active Mexican American civil and political participation. On this 2-mile hike, patrons will reflect and converse about the need to preserve “barrio” history in the face of gentrification and displacement.
READ MORE ON THE ECONOMY FURNITURE STRIKE HERE.
Tickets
$25 per person, free for students. Space is limited. Ticket sales close February 13.
Route + Logistics
The the 2-mile walking tour will begin at Green & White Grocery (1201 E 7th St) and conclude at Cisco’s (1511 E 6th Street) – see below for approximate route, subject to slight change.
Please come prepared to walk for approximately 2 hours with a break in the middle. Tour participants are encouraged to bring a water bottle to stay hydrated during the event.
Except for Green and White, the Ruiz House, and possibly Flat Track Coffee (former East First Neighborhood Center), participants of the walking tour will not be able to go inside any of the buildings or historic spaces.
The Ruiz house will be the focal point of the tour and also the furthest spot from the start. The living room and front yard will be staged to look like they might have during the strike. Here there will be refreshments, and a stopping point for people to catch their breath, enjoy a small demonstration, and sit for 20-30 min.